Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.
Proto-Germanic *balluz
Old English *beall
Middle English bal
English ball
From Middle English bal, ball, balle, from an unattested Old English *beall, *bealla (“round object, ball”), from Proto-Germanic *balluz, *ballô (“ball”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰol-n- (“ball, bubble”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blow, inflate, swell”).
Cognate with Old Saxon ball, Dutch bal, Old High German bal, ballo (German Ball (“ball”); Ballen (“bale”)). Related forms in Romance are borrowings from Germanic. See also balloon, bale.
Meanings
An exclamation to inform players on an adjacent playing area that a loose ball from another game has entered their playing area; typically implies that play should be paused until the ball has been retrieved.
(qualifier:Australian rules football) An appeal by the crowd for holding the ball against a tackled player.
A good tackle (and some bad ones) will bring a cry of "Ball!" from the crowd – a plea for a holding the ball free kick. 2007, “Laws Of The Afl 2007”, in AFL Sydney Swans Rules Zone, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2008:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.
Proto-Germanic *balluz
Old English *beall
Middle English bal
English ball
From Middle English bal, ball, balle, from an unattested Old English *beall, *bealla (“round object, ball”), from Proto-Germanic *balluz, *ballô (“ball”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰol-n- (“ball, bubble”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blow, inflate, swell”).
Cognate with Old Saxon ball, Dutch bal, Old High German bal, ballo (German Ball (“ball”); Ballen (“bale”)). Related forms in Romance are borrowings from Germanic. See also balloon, bale.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass.
a ball of spittle; a fecal ball
(countable, uncountable) A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass. ▸ A quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape.
a ball of wool; a ball of twine
(countable, uncountable) A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass. ▸ A food preparation formed into a spherical shape.
This dish is served with balls of potato.
(countable, uncountable) Homologue or analogue of a disk in the Euclidean plane. ▸ In 3-dimensional Euclidean space, the volume bounded by a sphere.
(countable, uncountable) Homologue or analogue of a disk in the Euclidean plane. ▸ The set of points in a metric space of any number of dimensions lying within a given distance (the radius) of a given point.
(countable, uncountable) Homologue or analogue of a disk in the Euclidean plane. ▸ The set of points in a topological space lying within some open set containing a given point.
(countable, uncountable) A solid, spherical nonexplosive missile for a cannon, rifle, gun, etc. ▸ A jacketed non-expanding bullet, typically of military origin.
(obsolete, uncountable) A solid, spherical nonexplosive missile for a cannon, rifle, gun, etc. ▸ Such bullets collectively.
This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 1, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 1:
I gave each of them a Musket with a Firelock on it, and about eight Charges of Powder and Ball, charging them to be very good Husbands of both, and not to use either of them but upon urgent Occasion. 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 294:
[…] the Good Old Cause, which, as they seemed to represent it, smelt of Gunpowder and ball […] 1659, Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey, England’s Confusion, London, page 7:
[…] some headstrong Maroons were using a soldier of Captain Craskell’s ill, and compelling him to write to his commander, that it was too late to do any thing good, and that they wanted nothing, having got plenty of powder and ball […] 1803, Robert Charles Dallas, The History of the Maroons, London: Longman and Rees, Volume 1, Letter 5, p. 148:
(countable, uncountable) A roundish, protuberant portion of some part of the body.
the ball of the thumb
(countable, uncountable) A roundish, protuberant portion of some part of the body. ▸ The front of the bottom of the foot, just behind the toes.
(countable, uncountable) The globe; the earthly sphere.
c. 1712', Joseph Addison, Ode to the Creator of the World
What, though in solemn Silence, all / Move round the dark terrestrial Ball!
Thus, if eternal Justice rules the ball, / Thus shall your wives, and thus your children fall; 1717, Alexander Pope, Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady:
(countable) An object that is the focus of many sports and games, in which it may be thrown, caught, kicked, bounced, rolled, chased, retrieved, hit with an instrument, spun, etc., usually roughly spherical or ovoid but whose size, weight, bounciness, colour, etc. differ according to the game
Graham secured victory with five minutes left, coolly lifting the ball over Asmir Begovic. 2011 October 2, Aled Williams, “Swansea 2-0 Stoke”, in BBC Sport Wales:
Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something; one generally, however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall. 1922, Michael Arlen, “3/19/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:
(uncountable) An object that is the focus of many sports and games, in which it may be thrown, caught, kicked, bounced, rolled, chased, retrieved, hit with an instrument, spun, etc., usually roughly spherical or ovoid but whose size, weight, bounciness, colour, etc. differ according to the game ▸ Any sport or game involving a ball; its play, literally or figuratively.
George played his college ball at Stanford.
The children were playing ball on the beach.
(countable) An object that is the focus of many sports and games, in which it may be thrown, caught, kicked, bounced, rolled, chased, retrieved, hit with an instrument, spun, etc., usually roughly spherical or ovoid but whose size, weight, bounciness, colour, etc. differ according to the game ▸ A pitch that falls outside of the strike zone.
(countable, qualifier:pinball) An object that is the focus of many sports and games, in which it may be thrown, caught, kicked, bounced, rolled, chased, retrieved, hit with an instrument, spun, etc., usually roughly spherical or ovoid but whose size, weight, bounciness, colour, etc. differ according to the game ▸ An opportunity to launch the pinball into play.
If you get to a million points, you get another ball.
(countable) An object that is the focus of many sports and games, in which it may be thrown, caught, kicked, bounced, rolled, chased, retrieved, hit with an instrument, spun, etc., usually roughly spherical or ovoid but whose size, weight, bounciness, colour, etc. differ according to the game ▸ A single delivery by the bowler, six of which make up an over.
(countable) An object that is the focus of many sports and games, in which it may be thrown, caught, kicked, bounced, rolled, chased, retrieved, hit with an instrument, spun, etc., usually roughly spherical or ovoid but whose size, weight, bounciness, colour, etc. differ according to the game ▸ a kick (or hit in e.g. field hockey) of the ball towards where one or more teammates is expected to be. (Distinguished from a pass by a longer distance travelled or less specific target point.)
Shetland increased the lead in the 22nd minute when Kirkness shot first time from a ball that was fired into the area from outside the 25-metre line. 2014 October 21, Jim Tait, “Hockey girls through to next round”, in Shetland Times, archived from the original on 15 Jul 2024:
After Essien's poor attempt flew into the stands, Rodrigo Moreno—Bolton's on-loan winger from Benfica who was making his full Premier League debut—nearly exposed the Blues with a lovely ball for Johan Elmander, but it just skipped away from his team-mate's toes. 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1-0 Bolton”, in BBC:
Mark Wright sent a speculative ball for me to chase after and I found myself leaving Tony Adams in my wake, with only Seaman to beat. 2019, Robbie Fowler, My Life In Football: Goals, Glory & The Lessons I've Learnt, Kings Road Publishing, →ISBN:
(countable, qualifier:rhythmic gymnastics) An object that is the focus of many sports and games, in which it may be thrown, caught, kicked, bounced, rolled, chased, retrieved, hit with an instrument, spun, etc., usually roughly spherical or ovoid but whose size, weight, bounciness, colour, etc. differ according to the game ▸ An apparatus.
(countable, metonymically, qualifier:rhythmic gymnastics, uncountable) An object that is the focus of many sports and games, in which it may be thrown, caught, kicked, bounced, rolled, chased, retrieved, hit with an instrument, spun, etc., usually roughly spherical or ovoid but whose size, weight, bounciness, colour, etc. differ according to the game ▸ An apparatus. ▸ An apparatus program with a ball.
(countable, mildly, plural-normally, slang, uncountable, vulgar) A testicle.
Hitler has only got one ball, / Göring has two but very small, / Himmler is rather sim'lar, / But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all. c. 1939, anonymous author, “Hitler Has Only Got One Ball”:
(countable, historical, uncountable) A leather-covered cushion, fastened to a handle called a ballstock; formerly used by printers for inking the form, then superseded by the roller.
(countable, historical, uncountable) A large pill, a form in which medicine was given to horses; a bolus.
The laxative alterative has not this advantage, the aloes, of which it is composed, being extremely bitter, and therefore requiring to be given in the form of a ball. 1842, James White, A compendium of the veterinary art:
(countable, singular, singular-only, slang, uncountable) One thousand US dollars.
Forty ball all in these leather jeans
Diamonds studs, I make a bum nigga think twice 2022 September 16, “Hands on the Floor” (track 4, 0:40 from the start), in Su'Lan (lyrics), Forever Da Gang:
Forty ball on my wrist, nigga, I cashed out on it (Damn)
Forty bands on my neck, nigga, I maxed out on it (Damn) 2022 November 23, “10PM in ATL” (track 2), in GoldenBoy Countup (lyrics), Chill:
I'ma let these niggas have it, go on stage and throw a forty ball 2022 July 22, “Convict Life (Wanna Be Alone)”, YoungBoy Never Broke Again (lyrics):
Dropped a twenty ball in Gallery Department 2022 November 25, “Gallery” (track 6), in OhGeesy (lyrics), GEEZYWORLD 2:
be мяч (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · pt bola (solid or hollow sphere) · sw mpira (testicle — see also testicle) · fo bóltur (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · yi באַל (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · uz tup (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ru шар (solid or hollow sphere) · hu golyó (solid or hollow sphere) · es bala (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · bo པོ་ལོ (solid or hollow sphere) · eo bulo (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · tr taşak (testicle — see also testicle) · gmw-cfr Ball (solid or hollow sphere) · za giuz (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ro ghem (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · si බෝලය (solid or hollow sphere) · es esfera (solid or hollow sphere) · mk јајца (in plural — slang — courage) · ar كورة (solid or hollow sphere) · sh лопта (solid or hollow sphere) · izh šaara (solid or hollow sphere) · non knǫttr (solid or hollow sphere) · ug توپ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · yi פּילקע (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · rup boashã (testicle — see also testicle) · tl itlog (testicle — see also testicle) · sv klot (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · pl kłębek (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · kl arsaq (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ce буьрк (solid or hollow sphere) · ang þōþor (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · th บอล (solid or hollow sphere) · my ဘော (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · tr haya (testicle — see also testicle) · as ঢোপ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · li bal (testicle — see also testicle) · rup colj (testicle — see also testicle) · ru яйцо́ (testicle — see also testicle) · sh klupka (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · haw pōkaʻa (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · ja 毬 (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · la globus (solid or hollow sphere) · uz toʻp (solid or hollow sphere) · bg гюле́ (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · pt bola (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · fr glaoui (testicle — see also testicle) · ka ყვერი (testicle — see also testicle) · ky ташак (testicle — see also testicle) · rm bura (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · li bal (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · scn baḍḍa (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · lv bumba (solid or hollow sphere) · pl jaja (testicle — see also testicle) · ru пу́ля (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · cs klubko (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · tr yumak (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · sk lopta (solid or hollow sphere) · scn baḍḍa (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · fr balle (solid or hollow sphere) · mt ballun (solid or hollow sphere) · ro boș (testicle — see also testicle) · es agallas (in plural — slang — courage) · scn baḍḍa (solid or hollow sphere) · pl jaja (in plural — slang — courage) · nl bolletje (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · to fo'i pulu (solid or hollow sphere) · id bola (solid or hollow sphere) · unm pahsahikàn (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · mk мадиња (in plural — slang — courage) · es bola (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · lv lode (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · ja 玉 (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · ne बल (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ba йомғаҡ (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · be яе́чка (testicle — see also testicle) · hu golyó (testicle — see also testicle) · pl kula (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · ckb تۆپ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · hi गेंद (cricket: a single delivery) · ja 鞠 (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · es ovillo (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · tr gülle (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · pa ਟੱਟਾ (testicle — see also testicle) · ca colló (testicle — see also testicle) · ota بیضه (testicle — see also testicle) · ar ضَرَّة (anatomy: ball of a foot) · ru мудёж (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · ki mũbira (solid or hollow sphere) · br bal (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · mn бөмбөг (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · pdt Baul (solid or hollow sphere) · pt bola do pé (anatomy: ball of a foot) · kk доп (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · nl kloten aan z’n lijf (in plural — slang — courage) · it palla (testicle — see also testicle) · gv crig (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · kmr gun (testicle — see also testicle) · sv kula (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · el τόπι (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ru пиздёж (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · myh ba·la (solid or hollow sphere) · oc pelòta (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ms telur (testicle — see also testicle) · ru яи́чко (testicle — see also testicle) · hi गोला (solid or hollow sphere) · scn baḍḍa (testicle — see also testicle) · nl kloten (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · ru шар (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · lv bumba (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · pt bola (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · pl kula (solid or hollow sphere) · acm طوبة (solid or hollow sphere) · es huevo (testicle — see also testicle) · el σφαίρα (solid or hollow sphere) · pt ovos (testicle — see also testicle) · sk lopta (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ar طابة (solid or hollow sphere) · bn গোলা (solid or hollow sphere) · fr bille (pinball: an opportunity to launch the ball into play) · ja ボール (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · mk топче (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ru бол (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · ar كُرَة (solid or hollow sphere) · th บอล (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · chr ᎠᎳᏍᎦᎶᏗ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ru ядро́ (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · mk сфера (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · es ovillo (solid or hollow sphere) · ca bola (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · de Ball (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · az top (solid or hollow sphere) · sa कन्दुक (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · si කන්දුක (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ky тоголок (solid or hollow sphere) · ja 球 (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · bg ташак (testicle — see also testicle) · ru я́йца (in plural — slang — courage) · sco baw (testicle — see also testicle) · de Fußballen (anatomy: ball of a foot) · twf pùohóna (solid or hollow sphere) · vi bóng (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · lez туп (solid or hollow sphere) · cy pêl (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ro coaie (testicle — see also testicle) · li bol (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · inc-ogu दडउ (solid or hollow sphere) · ka სფერო (solid or hollow sphere) · lv lode (solid or hollow sphere) · ang clīewen (solid or hollow sphere) · fr balle (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · scn sfira (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · alt тоголок (solid or hollow sphere) · te ఉండ (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · lt kamuolys (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · id bola (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sh lopta (solid or hollow sphere) · apw joołé (solid or hollow sphere) · te బంతి (solid or hollow sphere) · mnw ဗဝ် (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · cs koule (in plural — slang — courage) · fr balle (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · ast pelota (solid or hollow sphere) · ko 불알 (testicle — see also testicle) · rgn balòun (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · nb ball (solid or hollow sphere) · ru клубо́к (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · ny mpira (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sq top (solid or hollow sphere) · sv klot (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · my အလုံး (solid or hollow sphere) · zh 球體 /球体 (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · pt bala (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · ko 볼 (anatomy: ball of a foot) · sl krogla (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · tl bayag (testicle — see also testicle) · gu દડો (solid or hollow sphere) · kmr top (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ml പന്ത് (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · lo ບານ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ru сфе́ра (solid or hollow sphere) · fur coion (testicle — see also testicle) · yo bọ́ọ̀lù (solid or hollow sphere) · ar كُبَّة (solid or hollow sphere) · de Kugel (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · uk ядро́ (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · hy ձու (testicle — see also testicle) · ga meall (solid or hollow sphere) · vi dái (testicle — see also testicle) · lo ບານ (solid or hollow sphere) · fi pallo (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · pt colhões (in plural — slang — courage) · ml ഗോളം (solid or hollow sphere) · mk топка (solid or hollow sphere) · alt шар (solid or hollow sphere) · es esfera (3D) (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · rm balla (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ce буьрк (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · te బంతి (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · eo globo (solid or hollow sphere) · zdj mpira (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · tg тӯб (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · nl kogel (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · fa کُرِه (solid or hollow sphere) · is rugl (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · vec bala (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · dlm buola (solid or hollow sphere) · da bold (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · bg кълбо́ (solid or hollow sphere) · om kubbaa (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ota طاشاق (testicle — see also testicle) · ur گینْد (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · gmw-cfr Ball (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · lg omupiira (solid or hollow sphere) · scn palluni (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · it palla (anatomy: ball of a foot) · zh 壞球 /坏球 (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · ru я́йца (testicle — see also testicle) · fr boulet (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · tr mermi (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · gl bóla (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sl jajca (in plural — slang — courage) · nl bol (solid or hollow sphere) · lt kamuolys (solid or hollow sphere) · zh 球 (solid or hollow sphere) · non bǫllr (solid or hollow sphere) · mr गोळा (solid or hollow sphere) · ia coleone (testicle — see also testicle) · grc σφαῖρα (solid or hollow sphere) · li bol (solid or hollow sphere) · es pelota (cricket: a single delivery) · si ගුළ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sl žoga (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · cs vejce (testicle — see also testicle) · ko 볼 (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · zh йүанданзы (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · fi pallo (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · ar كورة (solid or hollow sphere) · ar كُرَة (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · to pulu (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ps ټوپکی (solid or hollow sphere) · vi mặt cầu (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · nn ball (solid or hollow sphere) · fa گُلولِه (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · ca bola (solid or hollow sphere) · si බෝලය (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · io baloneto (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sw mpira (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · az top (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · eo maltrafo (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · ky топ (solid or hollow sphere) · es círculo (2D) (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · la pila (solid or hollow sphere) · yi באַל (solid or hollow sphere) · is kúla (testicle — see also testicle) · haw pōpō (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · scn baḍḍa (anatomy: ball of a foot) · ba сфера (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · hy պլոր (testicle — see also testicle) · ja 球 (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · es balón (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ang bealluc (testicle — see also testicle) · os порти (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · nl kloot (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · fa گُنْدُلِه (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · de Boi (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sq bole (testicle — see also testicle) · clt pungpalung (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · yue 波 (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · fr boule (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · es bola (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · it gomitolo (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · zh данзы (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · nl kluwen (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · de Kugel (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · lb Ball (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sv nystan (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · pt besteira (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · pa ٹَٹّا (testicle — see also testicle) · zh 睾丸 (testicle — see also testicle) · ba туп (solid or hollow sphere) · ja まり (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ar كورة (solid or hollow sphere) · fr rouston (testicle — see also testicle) · it coglione (testicle — see also testicle) · ale miichix̂ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · it boiate (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · eo pilko (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · gl pulpillo (anatomy: ball of a foot) · be яйцо́ (testicle — see also testicle) · hu gömb (solid or hollow sphere) · ka ბურთი (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sw mpira (anatomy: ball of a foot) · ka კვერცხი (testicle — see also testicle) · be шар (solid or hollow sphere) · hsb bul (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sa गोला (solid or hollow sphere) · ps ټوپکی (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · km បាល់ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ro bilă (solid or hollow sphere) · hu tök (in plural — slang — courage) · eo sfero (solid or hollow sphere) · egy pA-A-D:N33 (solid or hollow sphere) · fr pelote (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · es bola (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · tyv мячик (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · it balla (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · tcy ಚೆಂಡ್ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sw mpira (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · scn baḍḍuzza (testicle — see also testicle) · rif tšamma (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · la pila (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · sv skitsnack (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · kn ಚೆಂಡು (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · pl motek (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · scn (Italianization) palla (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ko 공 (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · hrx Kughel (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · hy գնդակ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · cy pêl (solid or hollow sphere) · scn minchiata (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · sv kula (testicle — see also testicle) · tk şar (solid or hollow sphere) · sv klot (solid or hollow sphere) · bn বল (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sw mpira (in plural — slang — courage) · be я́йка (testicle — see also testicle) · mk јаболко (anatomy: ball of a foot) · fi kuula (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · li bol (testicle — see also testicle) · sv kula (solid or hollow sphere) · lv kamols (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · lut sbəkʷ (solid or hollow sphere) · uz koptok (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · uk ку́ля (solid or hollow sphere) · fa کَلاف (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · ga ceirtlín (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · fr boule (solid or hollow sphere) · zh 毛球 (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · ht boul (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · lad bala (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sl krogla (solid or hollow sphere) · haw pōkaʻa (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sh lopta (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · pl kula (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · ota یوماق (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · ccc takululu (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · fy bal (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · fi kuula (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · cs koule (testicle — see also testicle) · sl žoga (solid or hollow sphere) · ru фигня́ (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · es huevos (in plural — slang — courage) · mk сфера (solid or hollow sphere) · mk топка (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sco baw (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · hu gömb (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · uk опу́ка (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ru поду́шечка (anatomy: ball of a foot) · ro minge (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · fa گوی (solid or hollow sphere) · ps پنډوس (solid or hollow sphere) · fi päkiä (anatomy: ball of a foot) · sw mpira (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · mh bo̧o̧ļ (solid or hollow sphere) · gv bluckan (solid or hollow sphere) · ka სათესლე (testicle — see also testicle) · tk top (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · hu golyó (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · mk топки (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · cv мечӗк (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · fi palli (testicle — see also testicle) · ug توپ (solid or hollow sphere) · ga liathróid (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · es pelota (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ba туп (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · hy գունդ (solid or hollow sphere) · la pila (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · oc colha (testicle — see also testicle) · ltg bumbuļs (solid or hollow sphere) · uz tup (solid or hollow sphere) · lt kiaušas (testicle — see also testicle) · mww pob (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · he כַּדּוּר (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · xal меечг (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · oc cabdèl (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · gl bóla (solid or hollow sphere) · pl jajo (testicle — see also testicle) · bg кълбо (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · pt círculo (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · is kjarkur (in plural — slang — courage) · es pelota (testicle — see also testicle) · nl bal (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · sv kula (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · ur گولا (solid or hollow sphere) · ru мя́чик (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · tl bola (solid or hollow sphere) · es bola mala (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · fr balle (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · ja 正球 (cricket: a single delivery) · haw poepoe (solid or hollow sphere) · nb ball (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · tl bola (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · vi trứng dái (testicle — see also testicle) · rm bora (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ko 볼 (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · mh bo̧o̧ļ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · fa توپ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · es bola (solid or hollow sphere) · fr couille (testicle — see also testicle) · it pallone (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · eu baloi (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · nv jooł (solid or hollow sphere) · az şar (solid or hollow sphere) · sv boll (solid or hollow sphere) · ja ボール (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · fr ballon (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · se spábba (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · is bolti (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · bg кълбо́ (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · ga cuach (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · hy կծիկ (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · es tirada (pinball: an opportunity to launch the ball into play) · uk яє́чко (testicle — see also testicle) · haw pōkā (solid or hollow sphere) · fr conneries (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · lut sbəkʷ (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · tr top (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ce горгале (solid or hollow sphere) · sh лопта (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ca cabdell (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · zh пидан (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · pt saco (testicle — see also testicle) · scn ghiòmmiru (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · mh aj (in plural — slang — courage) · sw mpira (cricket: a single delivery) · kk шар (solid or hollow sphere) · ba туп (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · sv balle (testicle — see also testicle) · ang clīewen (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · de Kugel (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · sv boll (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · nn ball (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ja 球 (solid or hollow sphere) · kk доп (solid or hollow sphere) · pt novelo (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · hi गेंद (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · rue пил'ка (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · mh bo̧o̧ļ (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · scn còcula (testicle — see also testicle) · de Mist (mildly vulgar slang: nonsense) · nl kloot (testicle — see also testicle) · bg топки (in plural — slang — courage) · fi pallo (pinball: an opportunity to launch the ball into play) · sw mpira (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · fr boule (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · cs koule (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · ko 불 (testicle — see also testicle) · ms bola (solid or hollow sphere) · it ball (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · hu labda (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · fi muna (in plural — slang — courage) · ja 玉 (solid or hollow sphere) · tg кура (solid or hollow sphere) · sw mpira (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · haw pōpō (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · it palla (mathematics: set of points in a metric space lying within a given distance of a given point) · ab ампыл (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · pt bolas (in plural — slang — courage) · ha dunkulen (solid or hollow sphere) · sk guľa (solid or hollow sphere) · es bola (testicle — see also testicle) · nl bal (testicle — see also testicle) · mk ѓуле (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · tr top (solid or hollow sphere) · jam baal (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · bg то́пка (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · cs míč (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · ms korah (solid or hollow sphere) · mn бөмбөг (solid or hollow sphere) · tt шар (solid or hollow sphere) · ar طابة (solid or hollow sphere) · mk маде (testicle — see also testicle) · zh 蛋 (testicle — see also testicle) · sl jajca (testicle — see also testicle) · nl bolleke (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · lmo balla (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · kxd bula (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · grc σφαῖρα (object, generally spherical, used for playing games) · fi väärä (baseball: a pitch that falls outside the strike zone) · chr ᏍᏆᏞᏍᏗ (solid or hollow sphere) · es cojón (testicle — see also testicle) · pt colhão (testicle — see also testicle) · ga róidlianna (testicle — see also testicle) · uk яйце́ (testicle — see also testicle) · cs koule (solid or hollow sphere) · sw mpira (solid or hollow sphere) · uk клубо́к (quantity of string, thread, etc., wound into a spherical shape) · km គោល (solid or hollow sphere) · be ядро́ (ballistics: a solid nonexplosive missile) · sv trampdyna (anatomy: ball of a foot)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.
Proto-Germanic *balluz
Old English *beall
Middle English bal
English ball
From Middle English bal, ball, balle, from an unattested Old English *beall, *bealla (“round object, ball”), from Proto-Germanic *balluz, *ballô (“ball”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰol-n- (“ball, bubble”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blow, inflate, swell”).
Cognate with Old Saxon ball, Dutch bal, Old High German bal, ballo (German Ball (“ball”); Ballen (“bale”)). Related forms in Romance are borrowings from Germanic. See also balloon, bale.
Meanings
(transitive) To form or wind into a ball.
She balled her fists.
to ball cotton
To heat in a furnace and form into balls for rolling.
(US, intransitive, transitive, vulgar) To have sexual intercourse (with).
Jefferson Fuck Poland wrote of three other anti-free-sex influences: […]heroin use (“Junkies rarely ball, unless for cash to buy junk. Heroin provides an orgasmic feeling of its own while suppressing sexual desire”); […]. 1991, Timothy Miller, quoting Jefferson Poland, The hippies and American values, University of Tennessee Press, →ISBN, page 69:
Max says it works both ways. “I mean if she comes in and tells me she wants to ball Don, maybe, I say ‘O.K., baby, it's your trip.’” 1968, Joan Didion, “Slouching Towards Bethlehem”, in Slouching Towards Bethlehem:
(ambitransitive) To gather balls which cling to the feet or skis, as of damp snow or clay; to gather into balls.
the snow balls
the horse balls
(participle, present, regional, slang) To be hip or cool.
(qualifier:university slang) To reject from a fraternity or sorority. (Ellipsis of blackball).
This highlights the issue of toxic masculinity in fraternities: a pledge only becomes a man, or a brother, by enduring as much abuse as he can and by proving his competence with girls. If he cannot, he is not only "balled" but seen as a "faggot" (this is a term directly from the work). 2018 July 12, “'I Thought Frats Were Like Their Movies, and They Totally Are': A Review of 'Alpha Class'”, in College Media Network:
All of these things are done by pledges in hopes of not getting 'balled' or kicked out. 2019 November 25, Annie Martin, “UCF frat suspended after report of pledges being forced to smoke marijuana, drink 'entire bottles' of alcohol”, in Orlando Sentinel:
(slang) To play basketball.
fuck it, we ball
(Internet) (slang) Used to indicate general perseverance.
(qualifier:African-American Vernacular) To spend money extravagantly.
(transitive) To punish by affixing a ball and chain.
any man refusing to do police duty will be punished by the sergts by balling him the rest of the day. 1865, Camp Sumpter, Andersonville National Historic Site, Rules and Regulations of the Prison:
(transitive) Of bees: to kill (a wasp) by surrounding it in large numbers so as to raise its body heat.
(intransitive) To operate (a vehicle) at high speed (whether balls-out, balls to the wall, or ballin' the jack, each of which comes ultimately from ball via a different route).
Near-synonym: haul ass
Hang back for a bit — that Peterbilt in the left lane is really ballin’ and I'd rather not be real close to him.
fr débroussailler la tranchée (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · es coger con (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · sv knulla (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · es tirarse a (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · pt comer (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · fi nussia (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · it scopare (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · fi naida (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · ru ядри́ть (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · fr forniquer (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · fr tirer son coup (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · scn fùttiri (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · fi panna (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · bg удрям едно мадо (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · it trombare (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · sw mpira (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with) · es follar con (vulgar slang: have sexual intercourse with)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.
Late Latin ballō
Old French baller
Middle French baler
Middle French ballbor.
English ball
From Middle French bal, from Middle French baler (“to dance”), from Old French baller, from Late Latin ballō (“to dance”). Doublet of baile.
Meanings
A formal dance.
We still have pictures from the ball we had in August 2008.
(informal) A very enjoyable time.
I had a ball at that concert.
A competitive event among young African-American and Latin American LGBTQ+ people in which prizes are awarded for drag and similar performances. See ball culture.